UH Board of Regents completes annual review of the president

Chairman Kobayashi calls Dobelle's first year a year of substantial achievement

The University of Hawai'i's Board of Regents completed its first annual review of Evan Dobelle's leadership as president of the University system and cited the change in attitude throughout the University as a positive first year achievement.

"Within a year, campus attitudes have changed remarkably," said Bert Kobayashi, Chairperson of the Board of Regents. "Progress has been initiated and a new attitude is prominent throughout the University system. President Dobelle's leadership during his first year in office was substantial."

The President has been a high profile individual and he has rejuvenated public interest in the University.

The Chairperson cited as Dobelle's first-year achievements:· A system-wide strategic plan.· Selection of Peter Englert as chancellor of the Manoa Campus.· Selection of Herman Frazier as Manoa Campus athletic director.· Securing funding from the Governor and the legislature for the building of new facilities for the John A. Burns School of Medicine's new Kakaako site.· Fast tracking nearly a half billion dollars in capital improvement projects throughout the university system.· Strengthening and nurturing the Hawaiian studies program.· Initiating a serious partnership with Hawai'i's three system of education - preschool, K-12, and higher education.· Advancing new partnerships throughout the Hawaiian islands with a wide variety of business, legislative, governmental and community interests.

The President has put forth many intriguing proposals for the betterment of the University community. There are indeed challenges ahead as the President, the board and the University community moves forward to bring many of the proposed projects into fruition.

Responding to the board's review, Dobelle said, "I am deeply thankful to the board and the University community for having entrusted me with the responsibility of managing the University of Hawai'i. I wake up each day fully energized and excited about building and strengthening our promise and potential throughout the system. I believe firmly in the good work of the University and am proud for the opportunity to steward it into still better times."

Dr. Evan S. Dobelle assumed the presidency of the University of Hawai'i system in July 2001 after having served as president of Trinity College for six years. Dr. Dobelle holds a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in education and public policy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He is a tenured professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the UH Manoa campus.